How many products over the years I’ve tried! How about you?
Sugar-free, gluten-free, low calorie, no calorie, free, GMO, organic, non-processed, natural, simple, you name it, it’s been in my house.
I’ve used all of them, some just to try on a trial basis, and some I’ve stuck with over the years.
I still have it in my mind’s eye of my Great-Aunt Annie’s farmhouse kitchen. She was my maternal grandfather’s sister, and she lived on a farm somewhere I’m thinking in Rockland County, NY. So, it was a 2-hour drive from our house.
It was a simple enough house and the kitchen seemed large and roomy; could be it “seemed” that way because I was still so small! I can still recall the food smells whenever we were there. Just simple cooking and baking smells; but oh, so good! The occasional whiffs of coffee and fresh-baked apple pie, and whatever she was cooking up on the stove.
These days I enjoy looking at delicious cakes, pies, donuts, and cupcakes more than I do at buying them or even baking them. And now that summer is just one month away who wants to be sitting in your kitchen all day long if you don’t have to be?
Every now and then, usually one weekday a week, I do love making something homemade. Brownies, breads, or cookies are usually what get made, but once in a while there’s nothing like a good cupcake!
Just a few years ago cupcakes were all the rage!
You saw them all over famous magazines and food blogs alike. They even became wedding cakes, they were so popular. And why not? You can eat just one without feeling guilty and all the rest look so pretty on a glass cake plate.
But, they must have the right icing.
Without the right cupcake icing, these little gems look so naked! They don’t have to be. And, I have found a few PERFECT recipes for cupcake icing.
And I absolutely LOATHE those store-bought tubs of frosting!
Anyway you swirl them, they just never seem good. That’s because they’re not homemade. Like mine.
When I was a youngster, I can recall my share of Polish weddings we would go to mostly in Bayonne, NJ where my grandfather’s brother lived. His kids were all a bit older than me and every one of them got married in their early 20s.
During the evening there were plenty of polka’s to dance, strange food to sample and always the chance to say hi to the bride (who was beautiful!!!!!) in her white gown and veil. Towards the end of the night, boring coffee was always served with the incredible wedding cake.
It always had buttercream icing on it. Only, even that buttercream was so overwhelming, that to me, a certified sweet-nut, I couldn’t eat it! Well, not all of it, anyway. It just didn’t taste good because it was TOO sweet, and TOO SWEET!
I mean it just wouldn’t go down!
And when food starts becoming a chore you know you’ve got a problem.
But, I have found my perfect buttercream frosting.
Frosting, icing, call it what you like, it is delicious! And buttercream icing deserves a good rap.
BEST EVER VANILLA BUTTERCREAM
1 cup butter (2 sticks) — you can use salted or unsalted, I like salted better.
4-5 cups of confectioner’s sugar (also known as powdered sugar)
1-2 tablespoons of milk (whole or 2%)
3 teaspoons vanilla extract. I love Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract
In your mixer, add 4 cups of powdered sugar. Break up any big lumps if they’re there.
Add 2 sticks of softened butter. I like to leave the butter out for about an hour; only use REAL butter. Any substitutes just won’t do.
Add the vanilla. I always like the most you can put in; some people prefer less. It’s up to you.
Add 1 tablespoon of milk. Reserve the rest if you need it.
Start your mixer on LOW. Leave it here until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Then, raise to medium for 1 minute.
Check your frosting to see how it tastes and how it’s holding together. If it seems dry, add a little milk. Mix for 30 seconds, then check again.
Be sure to TASTE what you’re making. Ask your kids or husband what they think. Maybe a little more vanilla, or smoother, please?
Frost your cupcakes by hand or with a pastry bag. They’re VERY easy to use! 🙂
Wait for it!
Those compliments!
Don’t you just LOVE . . .
“Homekeeping Inspirations for Crafting Your Best Life!”
